Machine for mixing and distributing products used to feed livestock

ABSTRACT

A machine including a container fitted with a base that extends between lateral walls and end walls. The base partially covers (i) a mixing rotor and (ii) a feed auger which moves products in the skip either in a closed circuit or in a circuit towards a distributing chute. A transfer screw is mounted on top of the feed auger. The transfer screw can include cutting members in the form of sectioning parts. The sectioning parts co-operate with teeth which are disposed on a beam. The teeth can be positioned as necessary either on a beam located in the container or on one or more beams located on the lateral wall. Similarly, the feed auger can also include sectioning parts that co-operate with teeth if required.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to a mixing machine for distribution ofproduct for feeding cattle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

This type of machine, described particularly in document U.S. Pat. No.3,672,640, consists of a skip open on the top; this skip comprises arotor with large diameter extending longitudinally between the end wallsand which is partially surrounded by a rounded bottom in the form of atrough. This rotor stirs and mixes the product which it propelsgradually towards an endless screw arranged laterally, parallel to saidrotor and whereof the diameter is three to four times smaller than thatof the latter.

This lateral screw also extends between both end walls and it is alsosurrounded partially by a bottom in the form of a trough; it movescontinuously and longitudinally the product from one end to the other ofthe skip toward the end thereof where lies the feeding orifice so that,when this orifice is closed by an appropriate flap, the product aremoved in the skip, as a closed circuit, and are stirred thanks to themixing rotor.

The document EP-498 543 describes a machine such as that detailed abovewith, in addition, a transfer and cutting screw, which enables toincorporate products, such as hay or straw in the skip.

This transfer screw whereof the diameter is substantially the same asthat of the mixing screw mentioned above, is arranged above the latter,rotating in the same direction but with a reverse propeller pitch.

This transfer screw comprises, on its periphery, knives or sectionswhich enable to drive and, to a certain extent, to cut hay or straw.

This hay or straw is deposited in batches on top of the transfer screw,in a kind of hopper or funnel formed by shutters.

For certain types of product and in particular hay, the cutting means ofthe document mentioned above prove vastly insufficient.

It is known, as described in the document GB-2 283 898, for another typeof mixing machine, to associate a single mixing rotor, with largediameter, in the form of a screw provided with knives on its periphery,with a shutter whereof the edge close to said screw is provided withteeth. The knives of the screw and the teeth may enable to cut theproduct and in particular straw or hay.

But the presence of knives on the periphery of the screw reducesaccordingly the efficiency thereof in order to move the product on thebottom of the skip.

Moreover, for a screw of such a diameter, the driving loads are veryhigh and are made even worse by the presence of knives and of teethforming counter-knives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a feeding mixing machine comprising meanswhich enable efficient cutting of the product, such as hay or straw andin particular all types of hay.

The present invention also provides an arrangement of the skip at theinlet area of hay or straw bales. The product may indeed accumulate andthere may be jams between both screws, when hay or straw bales areinjected on the transfer screw.

These phenomena are due to the fact that the feeding screw comprises, atthe feeding orifice, a neutral area where its propeller is replaced withtangential propulsion vanes. Beyond this neutral area, i.e. close to theend wall, the propeller of the screw has a reverse pitch, in order tobring the product back onto the orifice.

Thus, when the feeding screw operates as a recycling screw, the productaccumulates at the neutral area and run up towards the transfer screwwhich may already be overloaded by the presence of hay or straw bales.

The present invention enables to obviate these drawbacks.

The machine according to the invention comprises, on one at least of thetransfer screws and/or feeding screws, knives in the form of sections,arranged by couples, forming a V, each couple co-operating with teetharranged on a support in the form of beam for instance, which beamextends at a distance from the casing of the screw provided with saidknives, between the end walls of the skip.

Still according to the invention, the couples of sections aredistributed over the length of the screw, arranged in a radial plane ona particular arrangement of the periphery of the propeller, or mountedon an appropriate support provided behind the active surface of saidpropeller, integral with the screw.

Still according to the invention, the couple of sections is in the formof a V whereof the angle is of the order of 10 to 45°, co-operating withteeth which are for instance in the form of a triangle or trapezoidhaving the same angle as said V.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the number of couplesof sections per screw turn is three to six for instance and thesecouples are spaced longitudinally by a distance of the order of 5 to 15cm and their effective working height is of the same order.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the teeth formingcounter-knives are made in all or in part of a steel sheet band, whichband is fixed on the support in the form of a beam.

According to another feature of the invention, the couples of sectionsare arranged on the transfer screw, co-operating with teeth which arearranged on a beam extending between the end walls of the machine, whichbeam lies inside the skip, substantially at the intersection of avertical plane tangent to the casing of the transfer screw on the sideof the mixing rotor, and of a horizontal plane which is tangent to theupper portion of said casing of the transfer screw.

Still according to the invention, the couples of sections may alsoco-operate with teeth arranged on at least one support in the form of abeam extending on the lateral wall of the skip close to the transferscrew, which support is arranged substantially at the intersection ofsaid lateral wall with a horizontal plane tangent to the upper portionand/or the lower portion of the casing of the transfer screw.

Still according to the invention, the couples of sections are arrangedat the feeding screw, in combination or not with the sections arrangedas detailed previously on the transfer screw, which sections aredistributed over the length of said feeding screw co-operating withteeth arranged on a beam made at the junction of the respective portionsof the bottom surrounding on the one hand said feeding screw and on theother hand the mixing rotor, which couples of sections are also able toco-operate with teeth arranged on a support in the form of a beamintegral with the lateral wall of the skip, arranged at the intersectionthereof with a horizontal plane tangent to the upper portion of thecasing of said feeding screw.

Still according to the invention, the machine comprises, above thetransfer screw, an arrangement in the form of a hopper enabling toinject the product and in particular the straw or hay bales, whichhopper is arranged in an area located between the neutral area of saidtransfer screw and the neutral area of the feeding screw.

Still according to the invention, the hopper is delineated by thelateral wall of the skip, on the side of the transfer and mixing screws,and by a shutter which is hinged on the beam serving as a support forthe teeth, which beam extends between the end walls of the skip, betweenthe transfer screw and the mixing rotor, which shutter is associatedwith a control member, such as an actuator, in order to be tilted eitherby the mixing rotor to guide the bales of product on the transfer screw,or be tilted on the side of said transfer screw to guide the producttowards said mixing rotor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be detailed further using the following descriptionand the appended drawings, given for exemplification purposes, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional diagrammatical view of a feeding mixingmachine according to the invention, showing the location of the mixingrotor and that of the lateral screws;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a screw provided with couples ofsections, co-operating with teeth;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the position of a couple of sections onthe screw with respect to a tooth mounted on a support;

FIG. 4 represents a mounting variation of a couple of sections on theperiphery of the propeller of a screw;

FIG. 5 shows the different possibilities of installation of the teethwhich co-operate with the sections installed on the transfer screw;

FIG. 6 also shows diagrammatically the teeth co-operating with couplesof sections mounted additionally on the mixing screw;

FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of the skip with a hopper to facilitate andguide the injection of the product, such as hay or straw bales;

FIG. 8 is a view according to section 8—8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial top view of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The feeding mixing machine is as that which is described in the documentEP-498 543 mentioned above, and only the portions useful to theunderstanding of the invention are detailed hereunder.

This machine comprises a skip 1 in the form of a tank, open on the top,delineated by a bottom 2, lateral walls 3 and 4 and end walls 5 and 6 asrepresented on the different figures.

The bottom 2 comprises two portions 7 and 8 in the form of troughs ofdifferent radius. The radius of the portion 8 is of the order of threeto four times smaller than that of the portion 7 and both these portionsjoining while forming a ridge 9.

The bottom 7 constitutes the partial casing of a mixing rotor 10extending longitudinally between the end walls 5 and 6. The bottom 8surrounds a screw 11 partially extending parallel to the mixing rotor10. This screw 11 has a diameter which is three to four times smallerthan that of the rotor 10 and its upper periphery lies substantially atthe same level as the pin of the rotor 10.

A second screw 12 extends above the screw 11, parallel, and this screwhas a diameter which corresponds substantially to that of said screw 11.

The rotor 10 stirs and mixes the product arranged in the skip 1. Itpropels the product towards the screw 11. This screw 11 moves theproduct from one end to the other of the skip, from the back to thefront for instance for recycling purposes and a closed circuit mixing.This screw 11 also enables to feed the product by means of an orificeprovided at the feeding chute 13.

This orifice is normally blanked off by a flap, as detailed below inconnection with FIG. 8.

The upper screw 12 revolves in the same direction as the mixing screw 11but the pitch of the propeller is reversed. This screw 12 transfers theproduct from the front to the back for instance, unlike the screw 11, tocirculate the product in the skip and improve the mixture.

This machine enables to mixing foodstuffs of all kinds and it may alsoreceive products, such as straw or hay.

FIG. 2 shows a screw corresponding indifferently to the feeding screw 11or to the transfer screw 12, provided with knives which co-operate withteeth 16. These knives are for instance made of sections 15 arranged bycouples at the periphery of the propeller designated 111 for the screw11 and 121 for the screw 12. In average, the couples of sections arethree to six in number per screw turn. These couples of sections 15 arecentred on radial planes and the distance between two adjacent radialplanes is of the order of 5 to 15 cm for instance.

The height of the sections 15 and their protrusion with respect to thecasing of the propellers of the screw are also of the order of 5 to 15cm and correspond to those of the teeth 16.

The couples of sections 15 may be arranged, as represented on FIGS. 2and 3, on an independent support 17 arranged in a radial plane at theback of the active portion of the propeller or, as represented on FIG.4, on a particular arrangement of the peripheral rim of the propeller.

As represented on FIGS. 2 and 3, the couples of sections 15 are fixed bybolts 18 for instance on the support 17. This support 17 is in the formof a plate integral with the hub of the corresponding screw 11 or 12,and also with the back of the propeller 111 or 121.

The couple of sections 15 forms a V whereof the angle is of the order of10 to 45° for instance. This couple of sections 15 co-operates each witha tooth 16 which is associated with a support 19 detailed below.

These teeth 16 are for instance in the form of triangles or oftrapezoids to co-operate with the couples of sections 15. As representedon FIG. 3, the shape of the teeth corresponds with the V formed by acouple of sections 15. The clearance is relatively small.

These teeth 16 are for instance cut into a steel blade which comprisesin all or in part teeth necessary to screws.

These teeth 16 are preferably part of a band 20 which is fixed byappropriate means on the supporting beam 19.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 shows a couple of sections 15 co-operating withteeth 16 in the form of simple fingers. These teeth 16 are arranged on asupport 19 serving as a beam.

Still on FIG. 4, the sections 15 also form a V centred in a radial planeof the screw running through the corresponding tooth 16. The peripheralrim of the propeller 111 or 121 of the corresponding screw, isstraightened locally, i.e. it comprises a section 21 which lies in aradial plane, followed by a section 22 which provides a solution ofcontinuity for connecting said section 21 to the peripheral rim of saidpropeller.

These screws 11 and/or 12 provided with couples of sections 15 mayco-operate with teeth placed in several locations in the skip.

Thus, on FIG. 5, the transfer screw 12 is provided with knives in theform of couples of sections 15 and these couples of sections co-operatewith teeth 16.

These teeth 16 may be arranged on a beam (19), 191, extending betweenthe end walls 5 and 6 of the skip. This beam 191 is situated in the skipsame, substantially at the intersection of a vertical plane tangent tothe periphery of the transfer screw 12, on the side of the mixing rotor10 and of a horizontal plane tangent to the upper periphery of saidscrew 12.

To suit the requirements, the teeth 16 may also be arranged on the sideof the wall 4 on a beam (19), 192 diametrally opposite to the beam 191.This beam 192 forms, in addition, a kind of reinforcement for the wall4.

Still on FIG. 5, one may notice the presence of a beam (19), 193arranged against the lateral wall 4 at the same level as the beam 191.This beam 193 may also be provided with knives 16 which co-operate withthe couples of sections 15.

Thus, to suit the requirements, the machine may be fitted with one orseveral sets of knives arranged either on a beam inside the skip, or onone or several beams installed against the lateral wall 4.

Still on FIG. 5, the delivery screw 11 is in the form of a simple screwwith a propeller whereof the contour is smooth simply to move theproduct on the bottom 8, from one end of the skip to the other.

FIG. 6 shows the adaptation of couples of sections 15 on the feedingscrew 11. These couples of sections may co-operate with teeth 16arranged on a beam (19), 194 situated on the internal face of the wall4. The couples of sections 15 may also co-operate with teeth 16 arrangedon a beam (19), 195 formed by a particular arrangement at the junctionof the bottoms 7 and 8.

Thus, the feeding screw 11 and the transfer screw 12 may be used to cutstraw and/or hay at will.

FIG. 7 shows a particular arrangement of the upper portion of the skipwhich enables to promote the guiding of straw or hay bales at its upperportion, either towards the transfer screw 12 or towards the mixingrotor 10.

The beam 191 carries a shutter 25 which is hinged by means of a pin 26on said beam. This shutter 25 is mobile around its pin 26 under theeffect of an actuator 27 which is for instance integral with the endwall 5 or 6 by means of a pin 28 and with said shutter 25 by means of acrank 29.

This shutter, as represented on FIG. 7, may tilt on the mixing rotor 10to facilitate the injection of hay or straw bales on the transfer screw12 or be tilted thereon as represented as thin dotted lines, in order tofacilitate the injection of the product on the mixing rotor 10.

Still on FIG. 7, a particular arrangement of the upper portion of thelateral wall 4 can be noticed. This upper portion 31 of the wall 4 israised and tilted towards the outside in order to form with the shutter25 a kind of hopper or funnel the better to accommodate and guide thehay or straw bales on the transfer screw 12.

The injection of hay or straw bales in the skip, on the transfer screw12, may cause jams.

During the preparation and mixing phase of the product in the skip, saidproduct circulates continuously in said skip, under the effect of themixing rotor 10 and especially of the feeding screw 11 which moves thisproduct of the wall 6 towards the wall 5 and in particular towards theorifice 32. This orifice 32, which enables to feed the product by thechute 13, is normally masked by a flap 33. At this orifice 32, a neutralarea on the screw 11 can be noticed which is centred on a radial plane34. The end portion of the screw 11, by the wall 5, comprises apropeller 111′ whereof the pitch is reversed with respect to thepropeller 111 extending over the whole remainder of the length of thescrew.

In this neutral area of the screw 11, between the propellers 111 and111′ radial paddles 37 can be found, which propel the product towardsthe outlet orifice 32. This neutral area lies opposite the outletorifice 32, which orifice is also centred on the radial plane 34 of thescrew 11.

The product has a natural tendency to be driven up towards the transferscrew 12 at the neutral area of the screw 11 when the flap 33 is innormal blanking position of the orifice 32. Thus, the introduction ofthe bales of product in the skip at this neutral area i.e. at the plane34, may generate disorders, such as jams.

The inlet area of the product on the transfer screw 12, is locatedpreferably outside the neutral area of the feeding screw 11.

The transfer screw 12 may also comprise, at its end located on side ofthe wall 6, a neutral area centred on a radial plane 38 and, beyond thisneutral area on the side of the wall 6, comprise a propeller 121′whereof the pitch is reversed with respect to that of the propeller 121.

This neutral area of the screw 12 may, as for the screw 11, compriseradial paddles 39.

The inlet hopper of the product on the screw 12, whereof one of thewalls is formed by the shutter 25, extends preferably in an areadelineated by the median plane 34 of the neutral area of the screw 11and the end of the transfer screw 12 or the median plane 38 of theneutral area of said screw 12.

It can be noticed on FIGS. 8 and 9, that the transfer screw 12 comprisescouples of sections 15 which co-operate with teeth 16 arranged on thebeam 191 which carries the shutter 25. These teeth 16 may for instanceco-operate with the larger portion of the propeller 121 as representedon FIG. 9 whereas the smaller portion of the propeller 121′, on the sideof the end wall 6, may comprise sections and co-operate with teeth 16arranged on the beam 193 for instance.

1. A mixing machine for distribution of cattle feed product includingstraw and hay feed product, comprising: a skip (1) comprising a topaccepting inserted feed product, lateral walls (3, 4), end walls (5, 6),a bottom (2) extending between the lateral walls (3, 4) and the endwalls (5, 6), a feeding orifice (32) provided on one of the lateralwalls and directed toward one of the end walls, and a flap (33) that canblank of the orifice (32), the bottom partially surrounding i) a mixingrotor (10) with a diameter extending longitudinally up to the end walls(5, 6) and ii) a feeding endless screw (11) extending parallel to saidrotor in order to move the product in a first direction from one end toanother end of said bottom toward the feeding orifice (32), the feedingscrew (11) topped with a transfer screw (12) that moves the productlongitudinally in the skip in a second direction reverse of the firstdirection, at least one of said feeding screw and said transfer screw(11, 12) comprising knives in the form of sections (15) arranged to atleast one of shred and cut the product inserted in the top, saidsections (15) arranged by couples, each couple of sections (15) forminga V and co-operating with a corresponding tooth (16) arranged on asupport in the form of beam (19), the beam extending, at a distance froma casing of the screw carrying said knives, between said end walls (5,6) of said skip, the couples of sections (15) being distributed over thelength of the screw carrying said knives and being each mounted centeredon a radial plane crossing the corresponding tooth (16).
 2. A machineaccording to claim 1, characterised in that the couples of sections (15)are distributed over the length of the screw (11 or 12) behind theactive surface of the propeller of said screw, and are mounted on asupport (17) in the form of a plate, arranged in a radial plane,integral with the hub of the propeller and said plate.
 3. A machineaccording to claim 2, characterised in that the couple of sections (15)is in the form of a V whereof the angle is in a range between 10° and45°.
 4. A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the numberof couples of sections (15) per turn on each screw is three to six.
 5. Amachine according to claim 1, characterised in that the teethco-operating with the couples of sections (15) are spaced by a distanceof 5 to 15 cm and their effective working height is from 5 to 15 cm. 6.A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the teeth (16) arein the form of a triangle or trapezoid made in all or in part in a steelsheet band, the band fixed on the support in the form of beam (19).
 7. Amachine according to claim 1, characterised in that the couples ofsections (15) are arranged and distributed on the transfer screw (12).8. A machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the teeth (16)co-operating with the couples of sections (15) are arranged on a beam(191) which lies substantially at the intersection of a vertical planetangent to the casing of the transfer screw (12), on the side of themixing rotor (10), and of a horizontal plane tangent to the upperportion of said casing of the transfer screw.
 9. A machine according toclaim 7, characterised in that the teeth (16) cooperating with thecouples of sections (15), are arranged on a support in the form of abeam (193) extending on the lateral wall (4) of the skip, substantiallyat the intersection thereof with a horizontal plane tangent to the upperportion of the casing of the transfer screw (12).
 10. A machineaccording to claim 7, characterised in that the teeth (16) co-operatingwith the couples of sections (15), are arranged on a support in the formof a beam (192) fixed on the lateral wall (4), at the intersectionthereof with a horizontal plane tangent to the lower portion of thecasing of the transfer screw (12).
 11. A machine according to claim 1,further comprising couples of sections (15) arranged at the feedingscrew (11), distributed over the length of said screw.
 12. A machineaccording to claim 11, characterised in that the teeth co-operating withthe couples of sections (15) are arranged on a beam (195) provided atthe junction of the portions of the bottom (2) surrounding the feedingscrew (11) and the mixing rotor (10).
 13. A machine according to claim11, characterised in that the teeth (16) co-operating with the couplesof sections (15) arranged on the feeding screw (11) are arranged on abeam (194) integral with the lateral wall (4) of the skip, at theintersection thereof with a horizontal plane tangent to the upperportion of the casing of said feeding screw (11).
 14. A machineaccording to claim 1, further comprising a hopper for introduction ofthe product in the skip (1), the hopper located above the transfer screw(12) in an area delineated by the radial plane (34) of the neutral areaof the feeding screw (11) and the radial plane (38) of the neutral areaof said transfer screw (12).
 15. A machine according to claim 14,further comprising a shutter (25) forming a wall for the hopper, theshutter hinged on the beam extending between the front and rear walls ofthe skip, between the transfer screw (12) and the mixing rotor (10), theshutter (25) associated with a control member, in order to be tiltedeither on the side of said mixing rotor (10) or on the side of saidtransfer screw (12) to guide the product injected into the skip (1),either on the former or the latter.
 16. A cattle feed product mixing anddistributing machine, comprising: a skip (1) comprising lateral walls(3, 4), end walls (5, 6), a bottom (2) extending between the lateralwalls and the end walls, and a feeding orifice (32) located on one ofthe lateral walls and directed toward one of the end walls, the bottompartially surrounding i) a mixing rotor (10) with a diameter extendinglongitudinally up to the end walls and ii) a feeding endless screw (11),extending parallel to the rotor, to move feed product in a firstdirection from one end to another end of said bottom toward the feedingorifice (32), a transfer screw (12) topping the feeding screw and tomove the product longitudinally in the skip in a second directionreverse of the first direction, at least one screw of the feeding screwand the transfer screw comprising V-shaped knife section couples (15) toshred and cut the product, a V-shaped portion of each couple cooperatingwith a corresponding tooth (16) arranged on a support beam (19) so thatcorresponding teeth extend into the V-shaped portion of each couple, thebeam extending, at a distance from a casing of the at least one screw,between the end walls, the couples mounted periodically along the entirelength of the at least one screw and mounted centered on a radial planecrossing the corresponding tooth.
 17. A cattle feed product mixing anddistributing machine, comprising: a skip (1) comprising lateral walls(3, 4), end walls (5, 6), a bottom (2) extending between the lateralwalls and the end walls, the bottom partially surrounding i) a mixingrotor (10) with a diameter extending longitudinally up to the end wallsand ii) a feeding endless screw (11), extending parallel to the rotor,to move feed product in a first direction from one end to another end ofsaid bottom, a transfer screw (12) topping the feeding screw and to movethe product longitudinally in the skip in a second direction reverse ofthe first direction, each of the feeding screw and the transfer screwcomprising V-shaped knife section couples (15) to shred and cut theproduct, a V-shaped portion of each couple cooperating with acorresponding tooth (16) arranged on support beams (19) so thatcorresponding teeth extend into the V-shaped portion of each couple, thebeams extending between the end walls, the couples mounted at regulardistances along the whole length of the feeding screw and the transferscrew, and each couple mounted centered on a radial plane crossing thecorresponding tooth.